The rear yard is a “young yard” in terms of new plantings and of the targeted audience.

“We wanted a little area with grass for the grandkids,” she said. “We wanted an area where they could have a little swimming pool or sprinklers.”

The garden is the couple’s retreat from all the noise of work. He’s an agent with Windermere Real Estate/East in Kirkland. She is the coronary unit coordinator at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett.

“I listen to monitors on my shift,” she said. “The garden is my oasis and therapy to get away from the beepings. I come out and listen to birds.

“I like to listen to the parachuters. Harvey Field is right over there. They jump and go ‘Wahoo.’”

The name on plaque on the front of the house is Goff, not McLean. In keeping with Snohomish tradition, a home on the historic register is named after a previous occupant. Lydia Goff had the place for 50 years.

“She was one of the first people who had a telephone. Old-timers remember coming in to use her phone,” Ardie McLean said.

Lydia Goff was also a piano teacher. “The old-timers remember coming in and taking piano lessons from Mrs. Goff,” she said.

Mrs. McLean felt a connection to Goff.

“I play the piano and it had room for my baby grand piano. Not many houses like this do.”

Music. Birds. Gold trees.

Long story short: The place turned out to be the couple’s true dream home.

Andrea Brown; 425-339-3443; abrown@heraldnet.com

Snohomish Garden Club Tour

When: Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. It features eight urban and suburban gardens in and around Snohomish.

Tickets: $12. Children 13 and under are free.

Advance tickets on sale in Snohomish at Annie’s on First, Curly Willow, Joyworks, Kusler’s Pharmacy, McAuliffe’s Valley Nursery, Machias Nursery and McDaniel’s Do It Center. Other sites: Molbak’s Garden and Home in Woodinville, My Garden Nursery in Mill Creek and Sunnyside Nursery in Marysville.

On tour day, tickets will be available at outlets as well as at the Snohomish Library, Fourth Street and Maple Avenue, starting at 10:30 a.m.